CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With Rep. Joaquin Castro

Interview

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BLITZER: It's been a day of some surprising revelations at the first public televised hearing in the Trump impeachment investigation. Joining us now, a key member of the Intelligence Committee -- Committee who questioned those two witnesses, Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas.

Congressman, what -- what was your reaction to what you heard today?

REP. JOAQUIN CASTRO (D-TX), MAJORITY MEMBER, HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE: Well, I think that, most of all, it gave the American people a chance to hear for themselves the evidence about the President's abuse of power.

And I thought that both witnesses came across as very earnest, with integrity, and they spoke the truth to the American people. And I -- I think what you'll see is that of the evidence will continue to build against the President.

BLITZER: You heard Ambassador Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, reveal a new conversation that one of his senior aides overheard where the President asked for an update on the investigations.

Why didn't that aide raise the alarm about that conversation earlier? In other words, why are we hearing it -- hearing about it only now?

CASTRO: No, I mean, that's a question that will certainly be asked when he comes to testify. Of course, the Committee just found out about it recently, and so he'll be sworn in and have to answer those questions under oath.

But it certainly makes a direct connection between President Trump, Ambassador Sondland, and what seems to be a direct order by the President, or at least a direct inquiry, about the investigations into Vice President Biden and his son and the company, Burisma.

[17:45:07]

BLITZER: You -- you rebutted a key Republican talking point that the quid pro quo actually never happened because the Ukrainians never investigated that. Let me play that moment for our viewers.

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CASTRO: The other side has claimed or has defended the President saying that the aid went through, that there was never any investigation. But the President attempted to get those things done and it looks like there was an initial agreement by the President of Ukraine to actually do those things.

So, Ambassadors, is attempted murder a crime? Is attempted murder a crime?

BILL TAYLOR, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE: Attempted murder is a crime.

CASTRO: Is attempted robbery a crime?

TAYLOR: Neither of us is a lawyer, but I'd say --

CASTRO: I -- I think anybody in this room could answer that question.

TAYLOR: I think that's right. I'll be -- I'll go out on a limb and say, yes, it is.

CASTRO: Is attempted extortion and bribery a crime?

TAYLOR: I don't know, sir.

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BLITZER: All right, Congressman, so explain what you meant by this specific line of questioning?

CASTRO: Well, as I said at the hearing, based on the evidence that I've seen, the President did one of two things. Either he committed extortion and bribery of a foreign official, or he committed attempted extortion and bribery of a -- of a foreign official.

And if that's the case, if the Republicans' defense is that the aid still went through, there were never investigations that happened, from the transcript and from all of the affirming witness testimony we have, the President was actually trying to get the Ukrainian President to investigate the Bidens, which would benefit President Trump politically, and he was threatening to withhold military aid.

So that's an attempted extortion and bribery, and that's still a crime. Even if you're not successful, even if you fail in what you're trying to do, it's still a crime.

BLITZER: So basically, what you're saying is the President of the United States committed a crime. And -- and have you already concluded that he must be impeached and eventually removed from office?

CASTRO: I believe, based on everything that I've seen -- and I think the American people will come to this conclusion -- that the President has committed impeachable offenses. So I think that, eventually, the Congress will likely move forward with articles of impeachment.

BLITZER: We're going to be hearing publicly from the ousted U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, on Friday. How do you hope to build on the testimony you heard today?

CASTRO: Well, again, you know, we're trying to make sure that we get as much testimony as possible from as many witnesses as we can who know the situation in Ukraine and what the President may have asked for or people that he gave commandments to or directives, like Rudy Giuliani. And she'll be another important witness in this fact- finding mission.

BLITZER: Congressman Joaquin Castro, thanks so much for joining us.

CASTRO: Thank you.

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